Russia has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening military cooperation with the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, pledging continued support for the armed forces of the three junta-led West African nations.
The commitment was announced on Wednesday in a joint statement issued after a high-level meeting in Niamey, Niger, attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the foreign ministers of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
According to the statement, Russia will continue to assist the three countries in enhancing the operational capabilities of their armed forces as part of an expanding security partnership between Moscow and the AES.
Lavrov’s visit to Niamey followed an earlier meeting held in Moscow in April 2025, where Russia and the alliance agreed to deepen cooperation in security, defence and other areas of mutual interest.
The Alliance of Sahel States, made up of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, was established after the three countries withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The bloc has since pursued closer political, military and economic cooperation while seeking alternative international partnerships.
The three nations are currently governed by military administrations that came to power through separate coups between 2020 and 2023. Since assuming power, their leaders have distanced their countries from France, the former colonial power, and strengthened relations with Russia, particularly in the areas of defence and security.
Russia has increasingly expanded its influence across the Sahel region by offering military assistance, training and security cooperation to governments confronting insurgencies linked to extremist groups.
The latest commitment underscores Moscow’s growing role in the region at a time when Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger continue to reshape their foreign and security alliances away from traditional Western partners.
Russia Reaffirms Military Support for Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger as Sahel Alliance Deepens Ties
